EP1229712A2 - Notification de changement du taux de facturation - Google Patents

Notification de changement du taux de facturation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1229712A2
EP1229712A2 EP01307293A EP01307293A EP1229712A2 EP 1229712 A2 EP1229712 A2 EP 1229712A2 EP 01307293 A EP01307293 A EP 01307293A EP 01307293 A EP01307293 A EP 01307293A EP 1229712 A2 EP1229712 A2 EP 1229712A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
call
charge
area
billing
occupancy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01307293A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1229712A3 (fr
Inventor
Stephen Clifford Goss
Jeffrey Ross Light
Chung-Zin Liu
Omar Hernando Salvador
Gitesh P. Shah
Mark Kevin Stockert
Kenneth Wayne Strom
Charles Varvaro
Randall Joe Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nokia of America Corp
Original Assignee
Lucent Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucent Technologies Inc filed Critical Lucent Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1229712A2 publication Critical patent/EP1229712A2/fr
Publication of EP1229712A3 publication Critical patent/EP1229712A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H04M15/8083—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/81—Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0112—Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0184—Details of billing arrangements involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the adjustment of charges for telecommunications calls in response to telecommunications traffic conditions.
  • a major capital resource is the number of radio channels available for communicating with mobile stations in particular areas.
  • the number of channels is determined by the number of transceivers provided for each cell, and the requirement that transceivers sharing a common frequency, timeslot, or code, not interfere with each other.
  • a radio channel for an additional call is frequently not available, but during off-peak periods or even during occasional intervals in the busy hour, channels are available.
  • a service provider must balance the cost of providing enough transceivers to serve most calls during the busy hour against the cost of a large number of transceivers that are under utilized outside the busy hour.
  • a problem of the prior art therefore, is that frequently many channels are available for calls, but these channels are not being used. This reduces the overall cost effectiveness of a cellular telecommunications system.
  • a mobile cellular telecommunications system monitors the number of radio channels available to users, and upon detecting large numbers of available channels in one or more cellular areas, notifies users of mobile stations in those areas of this condition, and encourages those users to place calls by offering a lower rate for calls placed at that time.
  • this arrangement encourages a better utilization of the radio channels of the mobile cellular telecommunications system.
  • the mobile stations in an affected area comprising one or more cell sites and/or sectors are notified by some broadcast arrangement, or by a short message service message. It is an option for the carrier whether to reduce the rate for all customers placing calls during the interval of low channel usage, or only to reduce the rates for customers who have been informed of the low channel usage. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the reduced rate is no longer available for new calls as soon as the number of available channels in the area goes below a threshold.
  • the notification may be offered to everyone, or only to subscribers to a notification service.
  • such subscribers are likely to be heavy users of the service.
  • the feature can also be used in a reverse sense, wherein subscribers of low cost calling plans are notified when rates are higher because of decreased available radio channel capacity.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile telecommunications system. Everything in Figure 1 is from the prior art except the software and the database of the Mobile Switching Center.
  • Mobile Switching Center (1) controls a number of cell sites such as cell sites (10), ... , (11). It is connected to the cell sites by transmission links (8), ..., (9).
  • the cell sites are connected to mobile stations such as mobile station (20) by radio links such as radio links (18) and (19), connecting cell sites (10) and (11), respectively, to mobile station (20).
  • the radio links are limited resources in that each cell site can communicate only with a limited number of mobile stations via a limited number of radio links.
  • the Mobile Switching Center (1) is controlled by processor (2), comprising a database (3) for storing data necessary to perform the methods described in Figures 2 and 3.
  • Theprocessor (2) is controlled by a program (4) stored in the memory of the processor.
  • the processor means for controlling the Mobile Switching Center are shown as a processor (2) within MSC (1).
  • the processor (2) and the database (3) can be augmented by adjunct processors and adjunct databases to provide the information necessary for controlling the Mobile Switching Center.
  • a database of an adjunct processor might be used to store the identification of mobile stations having special classes of service in accordance with this invention.
  • An adjunct database can be used for storing such information as the threshold number of radio channels in use for triggering either a lower tariff or a higher tariff.
  • the Mobile Switching Center communicates with the Public Switched Telephone Network (30) over access links 31, ... 32, and communicates with a number of cell sites (10, ..., 11) over communication and control transmission links 8, , 9. The cell sites in turn then communicate with mobile stations via radio communication and control links (18, ..., 19).
  • FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of one aspect of Applicants' invention.
  • the Mobile Switching Center, MSC monitors channel use in the cell sites which it controls, (Action Block 101). If a large area is served by a plurality of Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs), these switching centers can exchange channel usage data pertaining to their respective cell sites. If an MSC detects that channel usage is below threshold in a particular area comprising one or more cells and/or sectors, (Action Block 103), the MSC informs mobile stations operating in that area of a lower billing rate, (Action Block 105).
  • the MSC can maintain threshold data for each area, which can be defined by data in the database under the control of the System Administrator ( Figure 1) at terminal (40).
  • the MSC maintains two thresholds for each defined area: a first threshold for initiating a lower rate, and a second threshold (slightly higher than the first threshold) for terminating the offer of the lower rates.
  • the MSC maintains thresholds for cell sites in each specific area so that if any of these cell sites have a channel usage exceeding that threshold, the lower rates will not be offered.
  • the MSC notifies mobile stations operating in the appropriate area by some type of broadcast message or by individual short message service (SMS) messages relayed through the cell sites. The individual mobile stations will be equipped to alert the customer in case of receipt of either of these messages.
  • SMS short message service
  • a user at a mobile station in the area in which the low channel usage was detected originates a call, (Action Block 107).
  • the MSC marks the billing record with a reduced rate mark which is interpreted in the billing center so that the charge to the customer is less, (Action Block 109).
  • a reduced charge can be, for example, a simple percentage reduction of the normal charge, a charge at off-peak pricing during an on-peak period, or a reduction in the number of minutes for which the call is billed.
  • an increase tariff can be charged if the number of channels in use when a customer places a call exceeds a different, higher threshold. If the customer is to be charged more for this call, the customer can be notified through, for example, a short message service message.
  • a special tariff class of service may be required; customers having this special class of service would have generally lower charges, or a generally lower basic rate, but would have to be willing to pay higher rates when warned of high usage of the channels in their present cell.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates this other aspect of Applicants' invention.
  • the MSC monitors channel usage in an area, (Action Block 201).
  • An area defined here, as in the case of Figure 2, comprises one or more cells and/or sectors.
  • the MSC detects that channel usage is above a threshold in an area, (Action Block 203).
  • the MSC via the cell sites, notifies the mobile stations operating in that area that originating calls will be charged at a higher rate (Action Block 205).
  • MSs can be notified of the higher rates after a call is originated.
  • a user of a mobile station (MS) in that area originates a call (Action Block 207). If the MS continues the originated call, then the MSC marks the billing record for the call with an increased rate indication, (Action Block 209).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Meter Arrangements (AREA)
EP01307293A 2001-02-05 2001-08-28 Notification de changement du taux de facturation Withdrawn EP1229712A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/777,929 US20020107000A1 (en) 2001-02-05 2001-02-05 Rate change notification
US777929 2001-02-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1229712A2 true EP1229712A2 (fr) 2002-08-07
EP1229712A3 EP1229712A3 (fr) 2002-10-02

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01307293A Withdrawn EP1229712A3 (fr) 2001-02-05 2001-08-28 Notification de changement du taux de facturation

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20020107000A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1229712A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002261989A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2433620A (en) * 2005-12-20 2007-06-27 Nec Corp Billing system and method for making load-based adjustments to charges

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GB2370448B (en) * 2001-04-28 2003-03-26 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M Cost control in a SIP based network
JP2003110574A (ja) * 2001-09-27 2003-04-11 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 無線通信システム、それに用いるパケット伝送装置及びアクセスポイント
US6882850B2 (en) * 2001-12-03 2005-04-19 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Method and system for zone-based capacity control
US7206593B1 (en) 2002-04-04 2007-04-17 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Method for providing differing service levels in a wireless telecommunications network
US7062253B2 (en) 2002-04-10 2006-06-13 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Method and system for real-time tiered rating of communication services
US7054642B1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2006-05-30 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation Apparatus and method for providing reduced cost cellular service
US7006831B2 (en) * 2002-09-27 2006-02-28 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation Apparatus and method for providing dynamic communications network traffic control
US7280818B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2007-10-09 At&T Mobility Ii Llc Mobile device notification with opinions
US6999748B2 (en) * 2002-12-19 2006-02-14 Cingular Wireless Ii, Llc Automated device behavior management based on network charging and rating conditions
US6941134B2 (en) 2002-12-19 2005-09-06 Cingular Wireless Ii, Llc Automated device behavior management based on preset preferences
US6999749B2 (en) * 2002-12-19 2006-02-14 Cingular Wireless Ii, Llc Conditional application invocation in a wireless device
US8010080B1 (en) 2005-07-25 2011-08-30 Sprint Spectrum L.P. Predictive payment suggestion in a telecommunication system

Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0526118A2 (fr) * 1991-07-25 1993-02-03 Motorola, Inc. Méthode et appareil pour calculer dynamiquement le coût dans un système de communications
US5970403A (en) * 1997-03-04 1999-10-19 Ericsson Inc. Load based charging within a mobile telecommunications network
US5974308A (en) * 1996-11-13 1999-10-26 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Selective broadcasting of charge rates

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US5546444A (en) * 1994-03-11 1996-08-13 Bellsouth Corporation Methods and apparatus for communicating data via a cellular network control channel
US5519769C1 (en) * 1994-04-04 2002-05-28 Rates Technology Inc Method and system for updating a call rating database
US5794140A (en) * 1995-10-24 1998-08-11 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericcson (Publ) Method and apparatus for offering subscribers access to unused communications capacity in a cellular communications system
US6088431A (en) * 1996-03-20 2000-07-11 Aeris Communications, Inc. Method for transmitting voice or data in a wireless network depending on billing account status
US6119012A (en) * 1998-11-13 2000-09-12 Ericsson Inc. Method and system for dynamically and periodically updating mobile station location data in a telecommunications network
US6577717B1 (en) * 1999-05-27 2003-06-10 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Broadcasting of different tariff periods in a telephone system
US6556817B1 (en) * 1999-12-13 2003-04-29 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for selectively communicating in a wireless communication system based on varying time incremental costs of communication

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0526118A2 (fr) * 1991-07-25 1993-02-03 Motorola, Inc. Méthode et appareil pour calculer dynamiquement le coût dans un système de communications
US5974308A (en) * 1996-11-13 1999-10-26 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Selective broadcasting of charge rates
US5970403A (en) * 1997-03-04 1999-10-19 Ericsson Inc. Load based charging within a mobile telecommunications network

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2433620A (en) * 2005-12-20 2007-06-27 Nec Corp Billing system and method for making load-based adjustments to charges
US7853631B2 (en) 2005-12-20 2010-12-14 Nec Corporation Billing system and method for charging users for utilization of shared resource

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20020107000A1 (en) 2002-08-08
JP2002261989A (ja) 2002-09-13
EP1229712A3 (fr) 2002-10-02

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